The Veteran's left eye condition, which includes optic atrophy, chorioretinal laser scars, and blindness, has resulted in visual acuity of 5/200 or worse. The Board found that the current rating of 30 percent is appropriate given her symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s left eye condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings due to incapacitating episodes or significant vision loss as defined by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Left eye optic atrophy, Chorioretinal laser scars, Blindness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20032477
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20032477.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the Veteran's blindness, finding that it was a reasonably foreseeable complication of his VA heart surgery. The claim for service connection for peripheral artery disease was remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of December 9, 2019 for the award of special monthly death pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance for the surviving spouse. The decision is based on the appellant's intent to file a claim for survivor benefits at that time.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye blindness, finding that his chorioretinal scar and optic atrophy existed before service and were not aggravated by it. The right eye vision disability claim was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for blindness due to optic neuritis of the right eye, finding that VA did not cause the disability and that there was no evidence of fault on VA's part.
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